Would he really do it? He says no, but still, a 19-year-old man from Eindhoven is suspected of preparing attacks. His phone revealed an image of someone who had embraced the radical extremist ideology of armed jihad. Today, the man appeared in court.
The young suspect came to attention after an investigation was launched in The Hague against a 15-year-old boy. It turned out that he had been in contact with the 19-year-old suspect from Eindhoven. Together, they discussed faith via the messaging service Telegram and how the killing of non-believers was legitimized from their beliefs.
They talked about potential targets for attacks, such as the parliament or kidnapping and killing the leader of a far-right extremist group. They also shared videos on how to make a bomb or how to stab someone effectively. They would respond to each other about what they had seen.
Information shared
The suspect claims he never intended to actually do anything. However, this makes no difference in the criminal case. Even if they only shared videos and information, the Public Prosecution Service considers it preparation for an attack. After all, without that information, you cannot carry out the attack, reasoned the prosecutor. If you do not gather knowledge about an explosive, how can you use it?
The suspect also shared many videos on his public TikTok account, videos that have sometimes been viewed thousands of times. Therefore, he is also suspected of disseminating inciting terrorist material.
The Public Prosecution Service demanded a 2-year prison sentence, of which one year is conditional. The court will rule in two weeks.